A Voice in the Wilderness

 How cool is that? In case the first bit is confusing, it basically means that God will always show you just what to do, and the best way to do it. So, obviously, that's why spending time with Him is the cause of maximum happiness. Yet another really good reason to follow Christ. If you enjoyed that, check out my Sbstack, @voiceinthewilderness1. And then, tell yout friends!

 This is super hard to do! We only know how to do stuff we understand. Or that's how we think. I didn't teach myself to breath. And I have no intention that makes my heart beat. I do stuff I don't understand all day, and it keeps me alive. In the same way, I can trust everything else to the source of my life, and if the pattern holds, it'll turn out better than my ideas.  If you liked that, check out my Substack, @ voiceinthewilderness1. And then, tell your friends!

 The verse just before this says, "We're slain all day long." While not everywhere, that still happens! But even so, Christ has offered something way better than the painful death His enemies get. Life, and joy, and that more abundantly. So, better than just winning short term We get so much more. If you enjoyed that, check out my substack,@voiceintheilderness1. And then, tell your friends!  

 Scripture has a way of being unexpected. Jesus was exected to be a mighty warrior, not a humble carpenter. But really, both are true. In the same way, everyone imagines a lion and a lamb living peacefully. And while that might happen, it's never promised. Even so, we can trust in the hope of peace and comfort. Just nothing like we imagine.  If you enjoyed that, check out my Substack, @voiceinthewilderness1. And then, tell your friends!

 While the poem, or song is about two lovers, scripture tends to have layers of meanings. And looking at everything else the Bible says about God, we can see that He, just like the beloved bridegroom, has set His children apart, choosing to tell the world about the way He protects us, provides for us, and guides us. It's just so good to be loved.   If you enjoyed that, ceck out my Substack, @voiceinthewilderness1. And then, tell your friends!

 A Hebew understanding of good is more than just correct, or appropriate. It means synchronized, like clockwork, with every little piece making every other piece work better. And if that's just good (Heb. tov) which is what He said about each part, how perfect His finished creation must be! And you're a part of that. So, it's obviously very good.  If you enjoyed that, check out my Substack, @voiceinthewilderness1.And then, tell your friends!

 This was the blessing spelled out for Moses, just before the children of Israel entered the promised land. Right after this, God said he'd put His name on them, and bless them. As a believer, you're grafted in! It's how God wants to bless you. Just accept Him, and live like it, And the Lord's face will shine on you.         If you enjoyed that, check out my Substack, @voiceinthewildernes1. And then, tell your friends!

 How quickly we forget this! Sure, in the very beginning, God gave us charge over "every living creature." But that's like being caretakers. Not like we actually own anything. It's when we lose sight that we get upset over "My life isn't what I wanted." But if we try to remember the order of things, we'll see just how generous God is, and how good we've got it. It's gonna be okay.  If you enjoyed that, check out my Substack @voiceinthewilderness1. And then, tell your friends!

 Ever wonder about God's will? I left out the middle bit,which says to pray continually and give thanks for everything. That sounds really simple, until you think about it. And while it's not easy, that's why He sent the Spirit as "Helper." We can't leave anything out, but the more we do any of these, the others get easier. And That is what God wants you to do today.  If you enjoyed that, check out my Substack, @voiceinthewilderness1. And then, tell your friends!

 I love to sing, even if I'm off-key most of the time. But it's more than that. It's like, count your bessings, get excited, and make some noise! In other places David was quite the dancer, which means that's probably a good idea too. Basically, if you're happy and you know it, get funky!  If you enjoyed that, check out my Substack, @voiceinthewilderness1. And then, tell your friends!

 This is, basically, the best ecouragement ever! I'm gonna simplify (prphrs) the next bit: Don't worry about anything, just bring everything, in prayer to God. Do that, and you'll have such peace it won't even make sense. Also- As much as you can, try to think about facts and what's right, beautiful stuff, and just good stuff. Instead of toxic noise. If you do, God will bless you.   If you enjoyed that, check out my Substack, @voiceinthewilderness1. And then, tell your friends! 

   This can sound kinda flimsy. Sure, things are tough, but it'll be fine. You'll see. But it's so much more! This one's a promise. A guarantee, if you want. This is the all powerful maker and operator of everything saying, whatever you're deaing with, stick with me kid. I got it from here. All you gotta do is believe. If you enjoyed that, check out my Substack, @voiceinthewilderness1. And then, tell your friends!

 That could just as well say, "Man looks for anything better." But that's not possible. God is good, in every possible sense. He doesn't just do good things, God  is  goodness itself. That might be confusing, but every good thing comes from God, every good thing happens because of God. So, by lining ourselves up with the way God does stuff, that translates to maximum good things!  If you enjoyrd that, check out my Substack, @voiceinthewilderness1. And then, tell your friends! 

 ...but be transformed by the renewing of your minds." I talked about this a while ago, from the Psalms. This is Paul's way of saying this same idea. When you walk with God in Christ, the way this world operates isn't quite good enough. It's like His Children are transmitting a different frequency. A better one. Which might be difficult sometimes. Still, for those who endure to the end, it'll be better than you ever dreamed.   If you enjoyed that, check out my Substack, @voiceinthewilderness1. And then, tell your friends!

 We read about miracles, signs and wonders. Pillars of fire and parting seas. But those are extremes. Sure, you could make everycnversation through a megaphone at full volume. Which would get old, fast. In the same way, God has wanted to just talk since back in the beginning. Sometimes He does more, since we're bad listeners. Still, if we would listen, there's a lot of good things He wants to say.   If you enjoyed that, check out my Substack, @voiceinthewilderness1. And then, tell your friends!  

   The rest of this chapter talks about just how good wisdom is, and what it does, incuding keeping you alive. In the same way, Psalm 4 says that "God leads my soul in the paths of life." And that's just for starters! People talk about Him having too many rules. But really, God just knows how stuff should be done. And if we listen, everything will work out right.   If you enjoyed that, check out my Substack, @voiceinthewilderness1. And then, tell your friends!

 This might sound shallow. Some translations say "Eat, drink, and be merry." The thing is the next sentence, "This also comes from God." He's not a cruel taskmaster. God created happiness! But He wants us to get there His way. And when we do, it's better than we could ask for.   If you enjoyed that, check out my Substack, @voiceinthewilerness1. And then, tell your frieds!

    Just like that. That's exactly the way God wants to bless you. Of course, this comes after sayings like "Blessed are the Poor," and "Give expecting nothing." But it comes right ater, "Your Father is generus... to the selfish. Be merciful, as He is merciful." And yeah, that might feel personal. But the person that gives freely is repaid fully. Overflowing, without measure.   If you enjoyed that, check out my Substack, @voiceinthewilderness1. And then, tell your friends! 

       It's a bit of a weird arrangment. God's set things up so that He has the final say-so, but yet we have dominion. And you would think that means we can do whatever we want. Well, this is pretty much true. Thing is, that's like giving kids free run of your house. It might not always go super well, so you'd wamma leave some pointers. Which is what the Scriptures are. So we can do what we want wihout messing stuff up. Because He's the best dad ever.    If you enjoyed that, check out my Substack, @voiceinthewilderness1. And then, tell your friends!  

  Almost everyone knows this  prayer. But what does it mean? Isn't God's will already done, all the time? Absolutely. But being all powerful, He can let go. Which is known as free will. But the idea is that He wants what's best for us. So to get there, we should seek that best. We should want His wll to be done, so that He'll bless us. Because, He totallly will. If you enjoyed that, check out my Substack, @voiceinthewilderness1. And then, tell your friends!

  This is true, all the time. But look at the context. Neemiah was doing a great thing, that he'd gotten permission from man and provision from God to do. Still, enemies wanted to stop this work. In response, he used a combination of spiritual faith and physical wisdom, and the Irealites rebuilt the wall. In the same way, if we trust in the Lord, He'll show us what to do. And if you enjoyed that, check out my Substack, @voiceinthewilderness1. Also, tell your friends!

    This might be the most encouraging promise in the entire Bible. Yeah, it's similar to others, but this one says it like it is. When the next few verses get poetic, it pretty much means "from anything you might be scared of." Simply incredble. We who believe don't just serve a powerful God, but He promises to have your back when you need it.      If you enjoyed that, check out my Substack, @voiceinthewilderness1. And then, tell your friends!

 F rom the very beginning, good things were always the plan. In fact, scripture tells us that everything God does is good. Evil simply warps it sometimes. But He still works towards it. And as we seek Him, we'll see, eventually, that it's good. If you enjoyed that, check out my Substack,    @voiceinthewilderness1. And then, tell your friends!